Suffolk Council Discusses Plan For Future Growth

SUFFOLK — The City Council began discussing its goals for Suffolk's future growth for inclusion in a document called the 2005 Plan Wednesday night.

The 2005 Plan is a guideline, not a zoning package sealed in stone, according to City Manager John L. Rowe Jr.

The council discussed recommendations from the Planning Commission, as well as from citizens and developers. About 2,200 people have commented since January, said Community Development Director James Vacalis.

The discussion was punctuated by a bitter exchange between Councilmen Andrew Damiani and Ronald Hart. Hart claimed Damiani always turned to areas already dense and in need of housing rehabilitation as sites for future construction of housing for families with low incomes.

Damiani denied that was his intention, and added that "some of the most expensive housing is on 30-foot lots."

"I'd love to live in a house in Ghent," Damiani said, referring to the area in Norfolk with dense developments of upscale townhouses and condominiums.

"I wish you lived there," Hart replied quickly. Mayor Johnnie Mizelle then gaveled the discussion closed, and proceeded with debate on the plan.

The councilmen agreed to include in the 2005 Plan several future land use designations approved earlier:

*The rezoning of both sides of Franklin Street between Carter Furniture Store to Bank Street and all of Holladay Street to a lower density, R-2 medium-low density. Also, both sides of Bank Street from Holladay to Commerce Streets.

*Lowering the density from high to medium in the Pleasant Hill-South Suffolk and Rosemont-Lloyd Place neighborhoods.

The council's action will have no effect on existing plans or property in any of the areas, but will serve as a guideline for future developments.

In other business, the council debated an ordinance to require future city employees to be residents of the city.

Vice Mayor S. Chris Jones was the strongest supporter of the ordinance. "We've got people out there selling the city who don't even live in the city," Jones said.

Mizelle said employees who are residents "would help to pay their own salary."

Councilman Enoch Copeland spoke against the measure, calling it short-sighted. It would reduce the pool of possible employees, he said.

The council informally voted 4-3 against the measure.

Councilman Curtis Milteer then proposed an ordinance to require only council-appointed employees to reside in Suffolk. The council appoints the city's attorney, assessor, clerk and manager, all of whom currently live in Suffolk.

The second ordinance met with council's approval 5-2 and will be formally voted on at a future meeting.